100 Years of History in Seven Days with "The Roosevelts"

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by Kellie May on

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, a new seven-part, 14-hour documentary by Ken Burns, will air next week. New episodes will premiere at 8pm and encore at 10pm nightly Sunday, Sept. 14 through Saturday, Sept. 20, on CET and ThinkTV16.

This film weaves the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics, over almost a century in history. The series starts with Theodore’s birth in 1858 and ends with Eleanor’s death in 1962 and marks the first time their individual stories have been woven into a single narrative.

“The Roosevelts have played significant roles in other stories we’ve told before, from the National Parks to World War II,” Burns said in a press release from PBS. “It’s impossible, in fact, to visit many parts of the American experience without encountering their presence. But beyond simply sharing a bloodline or political success, they each shared a passionate belief that America is at its strongest when everyone has an equal chance. And on a personal level, they each struggled to overcome their own fears while maintaining a public face of courage.”